Caregiver involvement following institutionalization: Effects of preplacement stress

Family members face a variety of challenges when placing a cognitively impa ired relative in a nursing home. However, few studies have determined how s tressors and psychological well-being prior to placement influence the inst itutionalization experience for caregivers. In this article, the authors hy pothesize that stress and negative mental health before institutionalizatio n will have a significant effect on variables that reflect caregivers' post placement involvement, including satisfaction with the nursing home environ ment, weekly visits, and problems with staff. Primary caregivers (N = 185) were assessed prior to and after the institutionalization of a cognitively impaired elderly relative. A multivariate regression found that several pre placement stressors (behavior problems, activities of daily living dependen cies, role captivity), depression, and socioemotional support were predicti ve of nursing home involvement. As these results suggest, the stress proces s has important implications for caregivers throughout the nursing home tra nsition.